COVID-19 and Infectious Disease Policy

On May 5, 2023, the World Health Organization declared that the global Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 has ended. Then the US Department of Health and Human Services declared that the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 would expire May 11, 2023.

So it would seem that the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had such a profound and lasting impact on virtually everyone, has effectively ended. Here is what that means for Dr. Pleau, our policies, patient experiences, and day-to-day activities:

 

Face masks:

  • Masks continue to be optional for patients and providers, in the absence of significant respiratory symptoms.
  • If you have a cold or other acute symptoms involving nasal discharge, coughing, or sneezing, you will be required to wear a mask while in Dr. Pleau’s office, and we request that you wear a mask at all times while in the LifeQual Center building.
  • If you have cough or other symptoms from chronic conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema, you are encouraged but not required to wear a mask.
  • If you would prefer that Dr. Pleau and staff of William Pleau DC LLC wear face masks while in your presence, please just let us know and we will be happy to do so.

Physical Distancing

  • Physical distancing is no longer required per the Policies of William Pleau DC LLC or LifeQual Center.

Hand Washing or Sanitizing

  • Specific policies regarding hand washing and sanitization are no longer in place.
  • Patients and visitors are encouraged to wash their hands with soap and warm water after eating, using the restroom, or any time their hands are noticeably not clean.
  • Providers and staff are required to wash their hands with soap and warm water intermittently throughout the day.

Treatment Room and Workplace Sanitizing

  • Frequently touched surfaces such as table tops, arms of chairs, door handles, computer keyboards and handheld devices such as phones and tablets are sanitized intermittently throughout the day.

Patient illness:

  • If a patient has respiratory symptoms but no fever, the decision whether to cancel the visit can be made at the time by the provider, based on the history and presentation. If there is no fever, no positive COVID-19 test, and symptoms are improving, the provider may elect to conduct the visit normally.
  • If a patient has a fever of 100.4 F or higher, the visit will be cancelled and the patient instructed to return home and begin self-isolation, in accordance with OHA guidelines outlined in What to do if you test positive. The provider may recommend for the patient to self-administer a COVID-19 home antigen nasal swab test upon return home.

Provider illness:

  • If Dr. Pleau or staff of William Pleau DC LLC have a cold or other acute symptoms involving nasal discharge, coughing, or sneezing, they will be required to wear a mask while in the LifeQual Center building, except when eating, drinking, or performing other activities that require the removal of a face mask.
  • In the case of Provider or staff illness with fever of 100.4 of higher or severe upper respiratory symptoms, the affected individual will be sent home and patient care cancelled if necessary. 
  • Scheduled patients will be contacted and either rescheduled for a later date no sooner than 24 hours after the Provider’s symptoms have completely cleared or, if urgent care is needed, referred to another competent Provider.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us directly if you have any questions or concerns regarding our ongoing protection measures against COVID-19 and other illnesses.